Hinsdale's dream of playing in the Little League World Series ended a step short Saturday when Michigan used a five-run fifth inning to post a 6-3 win in the championship game of the Great Lakes Regional for 12-year-olds in Westfield, Indiana.

The Michigan team from Grosse Pointe came through the losers' bracket after falling in their opening game of the six-team competition.

Hinsdale took a 2-0 record into Saturday's contest.

Michigan grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Hinsdale star pitcher Andres Waelter, but Hinsdale tied the game in the bottom of the second on a run-scoring chopper in front of the plate by Max Williams, scoring Charlie Bergin, who was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a double by Max Merlo.

Hinsdale went ahead, 2-1, in the bottom of the third when Joe Boggs drew a lead off walk and eventually scored on a ground out off the bat of Waelter.

Michigan used three hits, a Hinsdale error and a couple of mental mistakes by Hinsdale for its first three runs in the top of the fifth.

Benny Oosterbaan replaced Waelter on the mound and surrendered a two-run homer to Jordan Arseneau, extending Michigan's lead to 6-2.

Hinsdale was unable to take advantage of two walks in the bottom of the fifth.

Hits by Merlo and Jakobi Lange led to a run in the bottom of the sixth, but it wasn't enough.

It's obviously not fun to lose, but that's baseball," Oosterbaan said. "Things just didn't go our way. We didn't feel any pressure for the game. Our team has win this year by playing loose."

Waelter said he believes the two days off before the championship game had an impact.

Chuck Fieldman/Pioneer Press

Hinsdale Little League players leave the field after their 6-3 loss.

Hinsdale Little League players leave the field after their 6-3 loss. (Chuck Fieldman/Pioneer Press)

"It hurt because we didn't see real game pitching, and we didn't hit very well in this game," he said.

Hinsdale manager Anthony Waelter said his team hurt itself with uncharacteristic mistakes.

"We made some mental mistakes, which is something we had avoided before this game, " he said, referring in part to a few situations in which nobody covered a base for Hinsdale.

Waelter said Hinsdale players got a bit rattled when Michigan rallied in the fifth inning.

"We tensed up," he said "It was a great season, but I think it does hurt more to come so close.

"This team's goal has been to get to the World Series, and we were six outs away."

Player Max Merlo agreed coming so close to advancing to the World Series made the loss more difficult.

"It does make it harder to come so close, but I am glad we got to the championship game," he said.